Rangers collapse in 3rd period

OTTAWA – After a stunning meltdown late in the third period on Saturday night, the New York Rangers head back to Madison Square Garden down 2-0 in the Eastern Conference semifinals.

Jean-Gabriel Pageau scored his fourth goal of the game at 2:54 of the second overtime as the Senators rallied to stun the Rangers 6-5 in Game 2 of the best-of-seven series.

Leading 5-3 late in the third, the Rangers allowed two goals in the final 3:19 – both by Pageau. His third goal with 1:02 left tied the score at five with goalie Craig Anderson pulled for an extra skater.

Pageau, who scored 12 goals in 82 regular-season games this season, is the first player with four goals in a playoff game since the Red Wings’ Johan Franzen did it in 2010 against the Sharks.

In a game that appeared would be decided by special teams, the Blueshirts scored twice shorthanded and another goal five seconds after a power play ended in the second period.

Trailing 4-2 after two periods, the Senators got a big bounce off the end boards and Ottawa’s Mark Stone was in front for the carom at 1:28. But Rangers rookie defenseman Brady Skjei scored his second of the game and fourth goal of the playoffs at 5:10 to give the Rangers a 5-3 lead.

With 3:19 left, a low right point shot was tipped past Henrik Lundqvist (28 saves) by Pageau. Pageau’s tying goal 2:17 later also was on a tip-in, off a long shot from Turris, on a six-on-five, and it completed the comeback and gave him his second career playoff hat trick.

The Rangers had won six of the last eight playoff games they have played when trailing in a series, dating back to Game 5 of the second round against Washington in 2015.

(Newsday/TNS)

Penguins 6, Capitals 2

Phil Kessel and Jake Guentzel each had two goals and an assist, Marc-Andre Fleury made 34 saves and Pittsburgh defeated Washington to take a 2-0 lead in their series.

Evgeni Malkin and Matt Cullen each had a goal and an assist, and Sidney Crosby had two assists as the Penguins won despite getting outshot 36-24.

Nicklas Backstrom had a goal and an assist for the Capitals, who have yet to lead in the series. Goaltender Braden Holtby was pulled after allowing three goals on 14 shots over the first two periods.